The Status of Episcopal Conferences and a Re-discovered Ecclesial Orthopraxis. Vibrant Echoes of the Local Churches in the Magisterium of Pope Francis

This article studies the role exercised by local Churches and Episcopal Conferences, perhaps one of the underdeveloped themes of conciliar and post-conciliar ecclesiology. The principal focus of this research is an analysis of the importance given by Pope Francis during the first four years of his p...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Scerri, Hector 1965- (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
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Published: Peeters 2017
In: ET studies
Year: 2017, Volume: 8, Issue: 2, Pages: 309-333
IxTheo Classification:KCB Papacy
KCC Councils
KDB Roman Catholic Church
NBN Ecclesiology
Online Access: Volltext (kostenfrei)
Description
Summary:This article studies the role exercised by local Churches and Episcopal Conferences, perhaps one of the underdeveloped themes of conciliar and post-conciliar ecclesiology. The principal focus of this research is an analysis of the importance given by Pope Francis during the first four years of his pontificate to the authoritative pronouncements and publications made by Episcopal Conferences. The plentiful number of references to local documents by Episcopal Conferences is indeed an important feature, which has inaugurated a new style in the exercise of the Magisterium, and reveals an ecclesial orthopraxis based more convincingly on collegiality and synodality. The impact of Episcopal Conferences has varied considerably during the last fifty years. Although a voice loud enough to be reckoned on a national or continental level, the voice of Episcopal Conferences now seems to have found a more prominent place in the Magisterium of the Bishop of Rome. Is this another sign that complements other gestures of how Francis desires to exercise his Petrine ministry? How does Francis look at Episcopal Conferences? The spirit of renewal in the Church is blowing harder from the grassroots towards the centre. Pope Francis has not only taken note of this, he has also responded to it in a creative way.
ISSN:2033-4273
Contains:Enthalten in: Europäische Gesellschaft für Katholische Theologie, ET studies
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.2143/ETS.8.2.3245457